When Margaret Thatcher became the country’s first female prime minister it was
hoped it would open the door for future women leaders.

However, 30 years on most people believe that the next Iron Lady is a long way off.

Less than a quarter of people polled by YouGov in a recent survey have faith in any of the 145 female MPs currently serving ever becoming prime minister.

Only one in 10 of the 1,734 people questioned feel the next British leader will be female, while barely a third think there will be a woman PM in the next 10 years.

Despite a steady rise in the number of women in parliament since Mrs Thatcher’s reign, only a third feel there are enough women representing Britain’s needs.

Of the current crop of women MPs, Yvette Cooper, Shadow Home Secretary, was voted most likely to become the country’s second female PM with 7 per cent, followed by the Home Secretary Theresa May with 6 per cent.

Other women in the running were Harriet Harman, Deputy Labour Leader, followed by Diane Abbott, Shadow Health Minister, and Louise Mensch, MP for Corby and self-professed feminist.

The results, to coincide with the release of the Iron Lady on DVD, were announced at a debate organised between members of the UK Youth Parliament and the British Youth Council.

Rosina St James, Vice Chair of Participation and Development at the British Youth Council, proposed Equalities Minister Mrs Cooper, applauding her “fantastic” work in politics.

She said: “She is passionate about politics, I believe she would make a wonderful prime minister. She has constantly helped women and always put them at the forefront of her campaigns.”

It was suggested that she would be an ideal replacement for current Labour leader Ed Miliband – “if he were to fail, which he probably will do.”

Young delegates at the debate had mixed opinions about Mrs Thatcher’s legacy.

One student called the Iron Lady her “inspiration” and said she always remembered her quote: 'If you want something said, ask a man…. If you want something done, ask a woman.’ We can all learn from that.”

One of her detractors, Lily Coulstock-Cockeram, a 17-year-old student from Cambridge, suggested that Mrs Thatcher’s premiership “was all about her”. “She may have been a woman PM, but she did nothing for women,” she said about the prime minister famously quoted as saying she “owed nothing to Women’s Lib.”

Despite the lack of faith in the serving women MPs, Prime Minister David Cameron doesn’t shape up well against the Mrs Thatcher either.

Only 7 per cent of those surveyed feel Mr Cameron is more trustworthy than Mrs Thatcher, while barely 3 per cent feel Mr Cameron stands up to what he believes in more than Mrs Thatcher did.

People were also asked what a film of Mr Cameron’s life would be called were it ever to be made.

The most common answers included 'The Tin Man’, hinting at his lack a heart, 'The Eton Mess’ and 'Liar Liar’, while many opted for 'The Pasty Man’ on the back of his recent embarrassment during his 'pastygate’ comments, suggesting he is out of touch with the people.

Mr Cameron has committed to ensuring a third of his ministers are women after being criticised for the number of female MPs in the Cabinet.

He said his party should make an attempt to secure more female candidates in new seats and has previously supported all-women shortlists.